Chocolate Pecan Pie Bites

These fabulous squares are the meeting of a maple pecan square from one of my grandmother's old cookie cook book, and my other grandmother's pecan pie recipe. The result is the delectable taste of pecan pie in little pieces that burst with flavour. Make sure to line the baking tray with parchment paper, and chilling the squares in the freezer before slicing will enable you to slice them as cleanly as possible. I am a chocolate addict, so I added some chocolate chips into the recipe, which makes them even deadlier.

Crust Ingredients: 

1 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter

Filling Ingredients: 

2/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup corn syrup

3 large eggs

1/4 cup soft butter

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup pecan halves

1 tsp vanilla 

2 tsp flour

1/2 cup chocolate chips, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Rub together the flour, sugar and butter, press into a 7" x 11" pan, and bake for 5 min.

3. Whisk together all of the filling ingredients except the pecans and optional chocolate.

4. Scatter the pecan halves and chocolate chips over the partially baked crust, and pour the filling over them. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes until the pecan halves have floated to the top.

5. Bake at 450 degrees F for 10 min, reduce heat to 350 F and bake 20 minutes further.

6. Let cool, and once cooled, further chill in freezer before cutting into squares, since the filling is rather sticky at room temperature.

Will make about 32 squares.